How many of you would love to pilot a Predator drone? Well, watching this video may be the next best thing.
Watch below as Airmen from the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard remotely pilot MQ-1 predator drones at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) can provide unmatched situational awareness for ground troops and is in high demand from combat commanders.
“Understanding the battlespace, friendly and enemy capabilities and positions are all key to achieving the desired end state (of the mission),” said Maj. Matthew, the 432nd Wing commander’s action group chief. “With RPAs, leaders can essentially view the battlespace from their offices and make well-informed decisions, real-time, based on live events.”
“RPAs can scan planned routes for threats, provide real-time footage of the route, provide a bird’s eye view of the targeted compound and more,” Matthew said. This means ground forces can be alerted of oncoming danger and avoid improvised explosive devices on the roads or enemies converging on friendly positions. – US Air Force
U.S. Air Force photo of MQ-1 Predator by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured image of MQ-1 Predator student pilot Capt. Andy Beitz (left) and student sensor operator Airman 1st Class Stephanie Barroso (right) piloting a Predator during a training session inside the Ground Control Station cell at Indian Springs Auxiliary Field, Nevada by the US Air Force